"christmas is for a**holes."

[maya_exquisite]

No wonder that's my bf's mantra during this season!!

A 34-year old man, who was a temp employee, got TRAMPLED and KILLED at a Wal-Mart in NY when they opened!! The customers BROKE the hinges of the doors to shove in!! No one stopped to help the man - they all just ran over him.

Two people were SHOT dead at a CA Toys 'R Us!! From what I've read so far, they think it was an argument between two groups of shoppers.

Hellooooooooooooooo, people!! It makes me happy I didn't go Black Friday shopping late last night/this morning.

[cprcheetah]

I am SO glad I'm not a "Black Friday" shopper. I heard about the Walmart incident and OMG I just can't believe people are that greedy.

[NickyBeth]

I actually don't think that statement is quite fair. I put the blame on Wal-Mart, whom did not have enough crowd control. Perhaps if Wal-Mart had HAD security guards in their store to moderate how many people could enter, this wouldn't have happened.

I work at the 3rd most profitable Starbucks here in the state of Florida. You can bet that when I opened the store today at 3 AM -- (And yes, I said 3 AM. We are located next to the popular mall in Boca Raton) -- I had security sitting outside of my store so that not only would my customers be that safe so early in the morning, that I would be safe as well.

My store did over 10 grand worth of revenue today, and that was when I left at 1:45 PM today. I am sure we will do much more, since the store is so high volume. But it is really all about the planning, not so much the attitude of the public. People are people!

[maya_exquisite]

^ Well, my bf says that because he just doesn't care for Christmas in general. He feels Christmas is just too commercialized and not truly about the spirit anymore - which I agree with. He used to always say it to me to make me laugh, too, because I love Christmas and can't get enough.

I just felt that with the three killings - which I feel are to be blamed on the CUSTOMERS (people shouldn't trample for any reason, whether there is security or not) as well as Wal-Mart - what my bf says fit it nicely.

Also to say "people are people"... do you know that even after the man went down, the people kept trampling on him? No one stopped. No one stopped to help. If that's how "people" are, I feel sad. If someone was down, obviously being hurt, my instinct is to help - not to rush to the aisle selling the vacuums for $9.

[Kiwi*]

either way that is crazy!

[maya_exquisite]

It is!! And I texted my friends that I knew were going shopping today to tell them the news and to make sure nothing happened to them... my friend that went to Wal-Mart got trampled on herself!! She said five minutes prior to Wal-Mart opening their doors, one guy pushed through the whole crowd to get to the front!! She said she's okay, thankfully!!

What happened to "aloha"?! It's gone during Christmas time. :omg:

[thebubbleking]

Well maya the answers quite simple you and the bf just need to convert and become jewish :D

[maya_exquisite]

Well maya the answers quite simple you and the bf just need to convert and become jewish :D

Hahahaha!! Well, we're not religious whatsoever (well, he's more "spiritual") so we're all good!! :rotfl

[bookworm0550]

yes, i agree what happened is sad. that poor guy. I wonder if his family will sue....there should have been guards. I'm glad I'm not a black friday shopper too (well, not really up to me cuz I work anyway). Still. Very sad.

[Gill]

I honestly truely believe that no gift I would want to buy would be so important that I would be willing to get myself involved in something like that, certainly not to hurt someone and to risk life in prison for shooting someone because you cannot get that "must have toy" that is just sad! Our shops usually open at a very early hour during these times and I myself have never witnessed total caos luckily but then again, I have christmas sorted and wrapped by November every year to avoid all that!

And do you know what is even sadder? The objects/toys that people were so desperate to get to the point of putting it first before someones life is the fact in a few months time nobody will want it and itll be in the sale, and everyone who did get it will put it in a cupboard and never get it out again, or itll go for 99p on Ebay!

Thats why a lot of people turn to internet shopping, less stressful and less dangerous! Things like this really do take the meaning out of christmas and its no wonder people feel that way! Imagine the christmas the people who were related to those killed because of it will have :(

[momo]

It's a sad day when bargain toys mean more than a persons life.. its a very sad day for humanity..

[linda040899]

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year....only because I take the time to remember the reason for the season! I listen to all the advertising the media puts forth and all I can do is shake my head in sadness. We've forgotten that, at least in the Christian world, December 25th is a birthday.

I'm no different than anyone else. I don't have a money tree growing in my back yard and I wasn't born into a wealthy family. I've had to work for everything I have and anything extra is a blessing! I say thank you for the roof over my head and food on the table. I'm fortunate enough to have a job that pays for at least the bare minimum of what I need. With the exception of one bad eye, I pretty much have my health. Hopefully, later this month, my daughter will deliver a healthy baby, not my first grandchild but my first granddaughter. To be honest, boy or girl doesn't matter and I've never expressed a preference.

I've not purchased any gifts yet, but I've given the most important one of the season.....a pint of blood. I do it every year, so if someone needs blood in order to continue life, it will be available.

Am I stressed as we start the Christmas season? Nope! The gift of time is the most precious one you can give and the most memorable gifts I've received in my lifetime involve time that someone else has given me. With the exception of perhaps once/day, I've turned off the media and I'm trying to enjoy the season!

[Triock]

Right on Linda, you took the words right out of my mouth, people have lost sight of the real reason for Christmas. Being a Hindu, our equivelent I guess would be diwali, but thankfully, it hasnt been commercialised and its a time that families get together just to spend quaility time together and share good food and enjoy catching up.